Matrix Report
Islamabad, July 8, 2021: A total of 1,169 casualties resulted from various forms of violence during Q2, 2021 (April – June). Of these, 203 lost their lives and 966 were wounded. An unprecedented upsurge in the number of wounded persons was the result of the countrywide violent protest by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on a blasphemy-related issue that left 4 persons dead and 800 wounded. The highest number of fatalities from violence was in Balochistan (74), erstwhile FATA (39), Sindh (39), KP (35), Punjab (8), Islamabad (4), and 4 additional persons in locations unknown as victims of violence carried out by TLP protestors in April.
If we combine the KP and erstwhile FATA fatalities, they equal that of Balochistan at 74. While Punjab and former FATA experienced a significant drop in violence (down by 64% and 43% respectively), Balochistan and Sindh witnessed a 50%+ uptick in violence. KP (excluding FATA) had marginal surge of 9% this quarter.
The use of guns for target killing remained the most common form of violence and all regions of the country were affected by it. In KP (including former FATA), the targets of this violence were a leader of the Awami National Party (ANP), a former member of Peace Committee, and a lawyer besides some other unknown civilians. The frequency of armed attacks increased this quarter.
Civilians bore the brunt of violence this quarter. The outlaws (militants, criminals, and insurgents) also witnessed a negligible drop in the number of their fatalities and the percentage as well. The fatalities of security personnel were lower than the civilian’s fatalities and so was their percentage. However, security personnel’s fatalities accounted for 30% of the total fatalities, an alarming situation that appears to be a resultant effect of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The combined percentage of the civilian and security personnel is 73% in Q2 as compared to 71% in Q1.
